Borussia Dortmund captain Marco Reus to miss month of action
Borussia Dortmund look set to be without their captain Marco Reus for at least a month after he picked up an injury in Tuesday’s DFB Cup defeat at Werder Bremen.
Reus was replaced by Emre Can in the 89th minute of the round-of-16 tie in Bremen, which Dortmund lost 3-2 despite second-half goals from Erling Haaland and Gio Reyna.
On Wednesday the club announced that the 30-year-old Germany attacker, who has scored 11 league goals this season, will be out for several weeks due to a muscle injury.
“According to an initial assessment by BVB’s medical department, Reus can start training with the team again in about four weeks,” a club statement read.
The news will come as a bitter blow to Dortmund, who currently sit third in the Bundesliga and just three points behind leaders and defending champions Bayern Munich with 14 league games left.
Last season’s Bundesliga runners-up must play five games before the end of February alone, starting with Saturday’s trip to fifth-placed Bayer Leverkusen. As well as that game, Reus seems certain to sit out further league matches against Eintracht Frankfurt, Werder Bremen and Freiburg, as well as the first leg of their UEFA Champions League last-16 tie against Paris Saint-Germain on 18 February.
The talismanic attacking midfielder must also be considered a doubt for the second leg of that tie with the French champions – due to take place in Paris on 11 March – as well as the trip to face his former club Borussia Mönchengladbach four days beforehand.
On-loan Juventus midfielder Can came on for his Dortmund debut to replace Reus, whose injury could result in US teenager Reyna playing a key role in the title race.
Seventeen-year-old Reyna – who got his first senior goal in the defeat at Bremen – only made his Bundesliga bow in his side’s 5-3 win at Augsburg last month.
Related news
Fantasy Team of the Week: Matchday 12
Jamal Musiala, Omar Marmoush and Jonathan Burkardt were among the star Fantasy performers on Matchday 12.
What are Bayern's options without Kane?
Bayern Munich must find someone to step into the huge boots of top scorer Harry Kane, who is out for the time being with a hamstring injury.
Wolfsburg sweep aside Leipzig
Wolfsburg produced a stunning display to crush Leipzig 5-1, with the visitors scoring three times in the opening 16 minutes.